The Elder Unearthed by Michael W. Garza

The Elder Unearthed: Tales of NasNoroth and the Cult of the Elder
by Michael W. Garza
Release Date: March 17, 2014
Publisher: Self-published
Reviewed by Matthew Scott Baker

I am consistently impressed with the number of Lovecraft inspired anthologies that are coming out nowadays. And what’s even better, many of these collections have excellent stories in them. THE ELDER UNEARTHED is one of these anthologies, and although it is short (there are 12 stories, but the book is only 84 pages long), it is certainly not to be underestimated. Author Michael W. Garza showcases a lot of skill with this collection, and offers chilling tales that will fill you with dread and horror both.If you are not familiar with THE ELDER UNEARTHED, here is the plot synopsis courtesy of the author:

The Elder Unearthed is an H.P. Lovecraft inspired collection of tales and poetry in horror and the macabre. The Cult of the Elder yearns to bring the dark gods through the endless void to wreak havoc on the nonbelievers of this world. You will bear witness to the wicked things that lay claim to those who call on NasNoroth and its Elder kin. Table of Contents: The Elder Unearthed, The Harvester, Teeth of the World, The Burning of Legel Manor, The Calling, Crimson Rising, A Rose by Any Other Name, The Long Forgotten, The Grief That Lingers, Drums in the Void, A Step through Darkness, The Hunger

Lovecraft is still one of my favorite horror authors, and I will continue to pursue stories and book written with his themes. I’m glad to see his work is still considered relevant; this shows just how deep and dark his imagination ran, if the concepts he explored are still considered ‘horrifying’ by today’s standards.

I’ve read many Lovecraft inspired anthologies, but THE ELDER UNEARTHED is one of the more exceptional ones that I’ve run across. Garza does an excellent job of capturing the mood and tone that Lovecraft set within his own tales, and these atmospherics carry over into the writing style. As a result, this collection has some truly terrifying stories that will cause you sleepless nights for years to come.

Each story in THE ELDER UNEARTHED is written well and flows at a nice pace. Garza writes with a unique voice, although the undertones mimic Lovecraft in certain aspects. This is not a negative or criticism by any means; I looked at this more as a compliment or tribute to the founding father of horror, rather than an imitation device.

Likewise, the editing of the collection is clean as well. I only found a single editing flaw, and it is one that is debatable. This by itself shows you how much care and detail the author has put into this work.

My favorite story in THE ELDER UNEARTHED is “The Harvester”. In this bleak tale, a lone man finds himself far from home, in a strange world full of misery and terror. As you would expect, his fate will not be a pleasant one…but the final scene is one that will haunt your memory for a long time.

THE ELDER UNEARTHED is a huge win for me, and fans of Lovecraft will want to snatch this one up immediately. Even if you don’t care much for Lovecraft, you can’t deny the entertainment-value in these horror-drenched stories. Regardless, put this on your reading list for 2014; you won’t be disappointed.

About Matthew Scott Baker

Matthew Scott Baker is a horror writer from Greenland, AR. His fiction has appeared in Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy, as well as a couple of anthology collections, including FIFTY SHADES OF DECAY, a zombie anthology published in 2013 by Angelic Knight Press. In addition to writing fiction, Matthew runs Shattered Ravings, a blog devoted to reviewing movies and books in the horror, science-fiction, and fantasy genres.

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